5. Whenever anyone came near to Absalom, bowing low out of respect, he would reach his hand out, grab them, and kiss them.
6. This is how Absalom treated every Israelite who came to the king seeking justice. This is how Absalom stole the hearts of the Israelites.
7. At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go to Hebron so I can fulfill a promise I made to the Lord.
8. Your servant made this promise when I lived in Geshur, in Aram. I promised that if the Lord would bring me back to Jerusalem, then I would worship the Lord in Hebron."
9. "Go in peace," the king said. So Absalom left and went to Hebron.
10. But Absalom sent secret agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: "When you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’"
11. Two hundred invited guests went with Absalom from Jerusalem. They were innocent and knew nothing of this matter when they went.
12. While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he summoned David’s advisor Ahithophel, who was from Giloh, to come from his hometown. So the conspiracy grew stronger, and Absalom’s following grew.
13. A messenger came to David, reporting, "The hearts of the Israelites have gone over to Absalom."
14. Then David told all the servants who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come on! We have to run for it, or we won’t be able to escape Absalom. Hurry, or he will catch up with us in no time, destroy us, and attack the city with the sword."
15. The king’s servants said to him, "Your servants are ready to do whatever our master the king decides."
16. So the king left, with his entire household following him, but he left ten secondary wives behind to take care of the palace.
17. So the king left, with all his people following him, and they stopped at the last house.
18. All the king’s servants marched past him, as did all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.
19. The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why are you coming with us too? Go back! Stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner and an exile from your own country.